Can I get a THANK YOU?!?

My friends' kids refer to me as the manner police.  What can I say, I expect that people use their manners!  When children (my friends' children or the students in my room) don't use their manners, I automatically correct them.  I just want them to grow up to be respectful young adults.  But, what happens when adults don't use their manners?  Nothing.  I do nothing because I don't want to be rude to them.  

My biggest manner related pet-peeve right now is centered around adults and technology.  I find it incredibly rude when people ask you via email to do something for them, or for your input, and then don't respond to your emails.  I have recently sent 3 emails (in response to something someone asked me to do) and heard nothing back from any of the receivers.  For all I know, they didn't even receive the emails; I worry about if they got it or if I should resend it.  And, if I resend it and they did get it the first time, are they going to think that's rude? 

All I'm asking is for a simple reply and thank you.  That's all.  15 seconds. Then, I'll know they received it and I might even think they appreciate that I took the time to do whatever they were asking me to do.  So, the next time that you ask someone a question, or for a favor, please be sure to send them a great big THANK YOU back through email!

The Common Core State Standards & My Classroom

Last week I attended a math pilot training for the Common Core State Standards.  I knew a little about these new standards before the training (and I know I still have a lot to learn), but I am so excited about them now.  I know that this will be great for our students once we get everything put into place and we all have time to get acclimated to the new standards.

I am looking forward to re-doing my curriculum and finding ways to incorporate technology into the new standards.  I had already vowed to do things differently in my classroom this year, but now I feel like I have been validated in my ideas.  I was pleasantly surprised to realize how much my ideal teaching style matches the mathematical practice aspect of the common core state standards. 

  I am not waiting around for the real training to happen before I start implementing these new standards; I am getting the change started in my own classroom as well as my school.  I am lucky to work for administrators that believe in me, trust my professional opinion, and support me in my endeavors.  We have already met about the training and have decided what our first action steps will be: get others on board with the practice standards immediately, get the curriculum lined up and ready to implement the common core state standards next year, and discover what gaps will need to be filled during the transition years.  At the pilot training, I met some great math teachers and school leaders that I have added to my professional learning network.  I will definitely use them and my administrators to make this adventure better for my students.